Payment reminder templates

Polite reminders for an unpaid invoice, as a text message and as an email: a friendly one, one for when it is overdue, and a final one. Fill in the details and copy the message.

Nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.

Friendly reminder

A few days before the due date, or on the day.

Text message

Hi [Client name], this is [Your name or business]. A reminder that invoice [Invoice number] for [Amount] is due on [Due date]. You can pay here: [How to pay]. Thank you!

Email · Subject: Invoice [Invoice number] is due on [Due date]

Hi [Client name], A friendly reminder that invoice [Invoice number] for [Amount] is due on [Due date]. You can pay here: [How to pay] If you have already paid, thank you, and please ignore this message. Best regards, [Your name or business]

Overdue reminder

When the due date has passed.

Text message

Hi [Client name], invoice [Invoice number] for [Amount] was due on [Due date] and is still unpaid. Please pay here: [How to pay], or reply if something is wrong. [Your name or business]

Email · Subject: Invoice [Invoice number] is overdue

Hi [Client name], Invoice [Invoice number] for [Amount] was due on [Due date], and we have not received payment yet. Please pay here: [How to pay] If something on the invoice is not right, reply to this email and we will sort it out. Thank you, [Your name or business]

Final reminder

When the invoice is well past due.

Text message

Hi [Client name], invoice [Invoice number] for [Amount] (due [Due date]) is still unpaid. Please pay by the end of this week: [How to pay]. Reply if you need a payment plan. [Your name or business]

Email · Subject: Final reminder: invoice [Invoice number]

Hi [Client name], This is a final reminder that invoice [Invoice number] for [Amount], due on [Due date], is still unpaid. Please pay by the end of this week: [How to pay] If you need to pay in instalments, reply and we can agree on a plan. Regards, [Your name or business]

Questions about payment reminders

When should I send a payment reminder?

Send a friendly reminder a few days before the due date or on the day, an overdue reminder a few days after it, and a final reminder about two weeks later if the invoice is still unpaid.

What should a reminder include?

The invoice number, the amount, the due date and the easiest way to pay, such as a pay link. Keep it short and polite.

Is a text message or an email better?

Text messages are read faster; email is better for a record. Many tradespeople send the text first and the email for the final reminder.